Tree Crops: New Weed Herbicide for Apple and Peach Growers in Carolinas and Virginia

Dow AgroSciences has announced that Pindar GT herbicide is now registered for use on bearing apples and peaches in the Carolinas, and apples in Virginia.

Fruit producers’ toughest weeds, such as marestail (horseweed) and pigweed plus dozens of others are no match for the power of Pindar GT. As a herbicide with two modes of action, it delivers superior, dependable weed control and long-lasting residual activity.

“Weeds harbor insects and compete for water and nutrients. The cleaner that band, the more worker-friendly our orchards are for irrigation and harvest efficiency,” says Andrew Bodie, a peach producer in Monetta, South Carolina. “Pindar GT works as well as anything we have used, and it’s holding back the marestail for at least six months.”

Stone and pome fruit producers can increase their profitability by managing hard-to-control broadleaf weeds with Pindar GT. The two new Section 3 supplemental labels enable producers to achieve orchard weed control with a 1.5- to 3-pint per acre preemergence or postemergence treatment in the dormant period, prior to bud swell.

Pindar GT herbicide combines two active ingredients providing two modes of action — penoxsulam plus oxyfluorfen —for excellent control of tough broadleaf weeds, including marestail, pigweed, Virginia pepperweed, henbit and morning-glory. When applied during the fall/winter dormant season, Pindar GT can provide up to six months of residual control.

“The approval of state labels in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia brings the weed control power of Pindar GT to pome and stone fruit producers in these three important Southeastern states,” says Stauffer.

In addition to having excellent broadleaf weed control, Pindar GT also offers great flexibility. For enhanced burndown activity, Pindar GT herbicide tank-mixes well with other approved preemergence herbicides such as pendimethalin or oryzalin. For postemergence applications, it is recommended that producers consider tank-mixing Pindar GT with glyphosate, glufosinate or paraquat.

Applications of Pindar GT herbicide are restricted to no more than three pints per acre in a single application, or more than a total of 4.5 pints per acre, per year.

Growers are advised to contact their state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if Pindar GT is registered for sale or use in their state. For more information, visit PindarGTPerforms.com/SE.